Most of the Saints off-season renovations have been made to a defense that has lagged far behind the team's top ranked offense. But there was one significant change on offense, at the fullback position. Mike Karney was released after 5 seasons in New Orleans and replaced in free agency with the signing of 8 year veteran Heath Evans.
Evans, who has played for 3 NFL teams, spent the last 3-plus seasons with the New England Patriots. During that span Evans was part of the undefeated 2007 New England squad that lost by 3 points to the Giants in the Super Bowl.
As he gets ready for the fall, Evans says his new quarterback, Drew Brees, is a lot like the Patriots field general Tom Brady.
"Comparisons would be the way they prepare for what I've seen already even in the weight room with Drew. He never settles for second best and Tommy Brady's the same way. I think their command and control out on the field is very similar - obviously the way they know their individual offenses," Evans said at Saints mini-camp. "I've only been around Drew a few short weeks, and man, he knows this thing inside and out. He knows where everyone is supposed to be… Like I told you, my head was kind of spinning around trying to learn a new playbook and he's always quick to help me out and get me in the right place and it makes it easier to understand."
Listen to Evans:
On how he will be used in the Saints offense, head coach Sean Payton says Evans can do a little of everything. "I mentioned right after the draft that the primary focal point for him is as a fullback, both in the running game and in the passing game. I'm sure there will be some situations where we'll decide to hand him the ball. He's certainly a factor for us as a blocker and also as a receiver. I wouldn't go as far ahead as to say that he's going to be the short-yardage back – I wouldn't say that. He's probably going to be in a lot of short-yardage situations as the blocker. We'll see week by week."
Payton also likes the leadership that Heath Evans will add to the locker room.
"He's a guy that has won a lot of games and any time that you can get a player from a successful organization, I think it adds to your team chemistry. He's a good leader and he's a guy that works hard. He does all the little things right. I think that's all a plus."
Looking ahead to his role in 2009, Evans says he's ready to do whatever the Saints need him to do. "You know right at this point, it's just to help win. And … coming from a place where we called it the Patriot way, now I'm trying to be the Saint's way, which is gonna be where I'm asked to fill in, when I'm asked to catch a ball, when I'm asked to get a tough first down, when I'm asked to make a special teams tackle – that's how I'm gonna make my contribution. So role wise – everything else – I'm gonna follow Sean's lead on that one and I hope it's a lot. I want to have fun and I want to win ball games."
With the Saints coming off 2 straight non-winning campaigns, Heath Evans and the "Patriots Way" could play a key part in getting New Orleans back into the playoffs this season.
For the latest on the New Orleans Saints check out Bobby Hebert and Deke Bellavia on SportsTalk weekdays from 4pm – 8pm on WWL-AM-FM-and-dot.com.
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